Automatic continuous rail-joint.



G. TROUP.

AUTOMATIC CONTINUOUS RAIL JOINT.

APPLIbATIOH FILED APB.26, 1911.

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CHARLES moor, or WATSEKA, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC CONTINUOUS RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application filed Apri126, 1911. Serial No. 623,351.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES TROUP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Watseka, in the county of Iroquois and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Continuous Rail.- Joint, of which the following is a full, clear, an exact description.

My invention is an improvement in continuous rail joints and has for its object the provision of a simple and economical connection of the character specified, practically independent of the rail, so that no change is required in the construction of the same, and wherein a supporting surface is provided at each joint between the rails and flush with the upper face of the rail tread, for engagement by the wheel to carry the wheel over the joint.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the saddle plate; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamping lug from below; Fig. t is a perspective view of a modified form of holding means for the pawl; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of saddle plate, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views of other modifications, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the construction shown in Fig. 8 with the bar removed, and, Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the bar.

The improvement comprises asaddle plate 1, provided at one side with an overlying flange 2 arranged at an angle with respect to the body of the plate and having at the junction of the flange and plate an opening 3 near each end of the plate for receiving a spike. At its opposite side, the plate is provided with two overlying lugs, each comprising a plate composed of twoportions 4: and 5, offsetlaterally from each other and connected by a web 6, which is inclined with respect to the long axis of the plate, and with respect to the edge of the flange 2. The arrangement is such that each lug is triangular in shape, and the plates 4.56 are arranged in the same manner, the portion 5 being secured to the plate 1 by rivets 7, and the webs 6 are parallel with each other. The web 6 forms a stop for engagement by the holding mechanism for the rail to be described, and the operative face 8 thereof may be, and preferably is, corrugated or roughened, as indicated at 9 in A fish plate 10 is arranged alongside the web 11 of the rail on the outer side of the rail, the saidplate being shaped to closely fit the side of the rail. The said fish plate is provided at its, upper edge, on its inner face, with a longitudinal rabbet 12 for receiving the adjacent side of the tread 13 of the rail. The upper edge of the fish plate is flush with the upper face of the tread, as shown in Fig. 1, and the ends of the said edge are beveled, as indicated at 14, the bevel meeting the upper edge of the fish plate abruptly as shown.

The fish plate is, provided at its lower edge with a lateral flange 15 inclining downwardly from the plate, and overlying the base 16 of the rail, and adjacent to each of the lugs 4.56, the flange 15 is provided with wedge-shaped extensions 17, fitting beneath the portion 4 of the adjacent lug. The beveled or inclined edge of each extension engages the surface 9 of the web 6 of the lug. The adjacent edge of the plate 1 is provided with spaced notches 18 for re-f ceiving spikes for holding that edge of the plate 8 to the ties.

The plate 1 is laid on the ties, beneath the rail, and is held in place by means of spikes which are passed through the openings 3 and the notches 18. The fish plate is then pushed longitudinally alongsidethe rail in engagement with the side thereof, until the extensions 17 enter beneath the portions at of the lugs. The side of the rail base 16 adjacent to the flange 2 fits closely beneath the same, and the arrangement and dimensions of the parts are such that the free inclined edges of the extensions 17 will engage the surfaces 9 before the end of the fish plate is flush with the end of the plate 1, The engagement of the inclined edges of the extension and the surfaces 9 will then force the fish plate and rail tightly together against theflange2. The end of the fish plate adjacent to the wide edge of the projection 17 is provided with a vertical series of ratchet teeth 18 which are engaged a by a fixed pawl 19 tohold the fish plate in the position shown in Fig. 1. The said pawl is pivoted between a pair of ears 20 on a'strap 21 which is held to thebase of the rail by means of bolts 22 as shown in Fig. 1. If desired, the pawl holding means comprising the strap 21 and bolts 22 may be replaced by the mechanism shown in Fig. 4. The said mechanism comprises a plate composed of two sections 23 and 24. Each section is provided at its outer edge with an overlying flange 25 and the flange of one section is provided with a pair of spaced ears 26, between which is pivoted the pawl 27 The plate is divided on a inclined line, that is the adjacent or meeting edges of the sections are beveled or inclined in the same direction. The section 23 is provided with a channeled downwardly offset flange 28, and the section 24 with a rib 29 fitting within the channel 30 of the flange.

It will be understood that the channel and the rib are inclined in the same direction, being parallel with the dividing line between the sections. The plate is arranged beneath the rail base with the flange 25, overlying the base edges, and the width of the plate between the flanges is slightly less than the width of the base, sov that when the sec tions are moved longitudinally of the rail in opposite directions, the sections will be clamped on the rail.

It will be understood that the plate 23-24 is arranged at the proper place with respect to the fish plate and may be applied after the fish plate is in permanent position. By using the holding means, just described, for the pawl, the said pawl may be adjusted with respect to the fish plate.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified form of saddle plate. The said plate 31 is provided at one edge with the overlying flange 32, having the openings or notches 33 for spikes. The opposite edge of the plate is inclined with respect to the long axis of the plate and is provided with an overlying flange 34 also inclined with respect to the said long axis. At its wide end and at the sides adjacent to the flange 34, the saddle plate is provided with an extension 35, having a slot 36 and a transverse stop 37 is bolted on to the plate, and can be removed to permit the pin to be taken out at the outer edge of the extension. In using the above described form of plate, the extensions 17 engage the flange 34 or rather the inner face of the web 38 between the flange and plate and the said face may be roughened if desired. The slot 36 is adapted to receive a pin or block similar to that shown in Fig. 6 to hold the fish plate in adjusted position. The said block 39 is wedge-shaped or square in cross section and with one face inclined and the said inclined face is provided with ratchet teeth 40 facing the base of the block. The fish plate may be forced into clamping position against the rail by driving the block downwardly, and the teeth 40 prevent its disengagement. p

The fish plate 10 in the construction of Fig. 6 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that the teeth 18 are omitted, and the lateral flange 41 at the bottom edge thereof is provided with an extension 42 having an inclined free edge.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7 the saddle plate is omitted. An ordinary fish plate 44 is arranged at the inner side of the rails 45, 45 and at the outer side of the said rails a fish plate 46 is arranged of sufficient thickness to extend beyond the outer edge of the tread of the rail and of suflicient height to be flush with its upper face. The upper edge 47 of the inner face of the plate is rabbeted to receive the rail tread, and the rabbeted portion is beveled toward each end as indicated at 48.

The plates 44 and 46 are secured together on the rail by bolts 49 and may be provided with notches 50 for receiving spikes. In Figs. 8 to 10, the ordinary fish plate 51 is used at the inner side of the rails 52 and on the outer side, a plate 53 of sufficient thickness to extend beyond the outer edge of the tread. The upper edge 54 of the fish plate is provided with a vertical recess 55 near its end and with a transverse opening 56 intersecting the recess. A bar 57 is seated on the edge 54, the upper face 58 thereof being flush with the upper face of the rail tread. The bar is beveled toward each end at 58, and is provided near each end with a depending lug 59 for engaging the recess and each lug is permitted to register with the opening 56. Bolts 60 are passed through the openings to hold the bar in place. The plates 46 and 53 are provided with notches 61 for spikes.

In every construction there is a surface flush with the upper face of the rail tread on the outer side of the rail for engagement by the wheel to carry the said wheel over the joint between the meeting ends of the rails. Since the said surface is on the outer side of the rails, the flanges of the wheel do not in terfere with the same. The beveled ends of the surface prevent any jar when the wheels engage the said surface.

I claim 1. In combination with the meeting ends of the rails of a saddle plate beneath the said ends and provided at its inner side edge with an overlying flange extending substantially parallel with the rail for engagement by the base of the rail and provided at its outer side edge with an overlying flange inclined with respect to the rail, a fish-plate fitting against the outer face of the webs of the rails and rabbeted on its inner face to receive the tread, said plate having its upper face flush with the upper face of the tread and being beveled downwardly toward each end, said plate having a lateral flange pro vided with an inclined free edge substantially parallel with the inclined flange of the saddle plate, the flange of the fish plate being of greater width at its base than the distance between the plate and the web of the rail, the fish plate having a vertical series of ratchet teeth at the end adjacent to the base of the flange, a pawl for engaging the teeth, and means for adjustably connecting the pawl to the base, said means comprising a sectional plate provided at each side edge with an overlying flange for engaging the rail base, the meeting edges of the sections being inclined in the same direction, one of said edges having a groove and the other a rib fitting within the groove.

2. In combination with the meeting ends of the rails of a saddle plate beneath the said ends and provided at its inner side edge with an overlying flange extending substantially parallel with the rail for engagement by the base of the rail and provided at its outer side edge with an overlying flange inclined with respect to the rail, a fish plate fitting against the outer face of the webs of the rails and rabbeted on its inner face to receive the tread, said plate having its upper face flush with the upper face of the tread and being beveled downwardly toward each end, said plate having a lateralflange provided with an inclined free edge substantially parallel with the inclined flange of the saddle plate, the flange of the fish plate being of greater width at its base than the distance between the plate and the web of the rail, the fish plate having a vertical series of ratchet teeth at the end adjacent to the base of the flange, a pawl for engaging the teeth, and means for adjustably connecting the pawl to the rail.

3. In combination with the meeting ends of the rails of a saddle plate beneath the said ends and provided at its inner side edge with an overlying flange extending substantially parallel with the rail for engagement by the base of the rail and provided at its outer side edge with an overlying flange inclined with respect to the rail, a fish plate fitting against the outer face of the webs of the rails and rabbeted on its inner face to receive the tread, said plate having its upper face flush with the upper face of the tread and being beveled downwardly toward each end, said plate having a lateral flange provided with an inclined free edge sub stantially parallel with the inclined flange of the saddle plate, the flange of the fish plate being of greater width at its base than the distance between the plate and the web 7 of the rail, and means for holding the fish plate in position, said'means comprising a pawl connected to the rail, the fish plate having teeth for engagement by the pawl.

CHARLES TROUP.

Witnesses BERT BURDIOK, MARIE BOSSOUG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

